XXY

A small Uruguayan village on the Atlantic coast serves as the backdrop for the family's attempt to shield Alex from discriminatory views. The setting features a tight-knit, traditional community where the sea and fishing life shape daily routines. The coastal environment amplifies social pressures while also offering moments of quiet reflection for self-discovery.

🧬 Identity

Alex’s intersex condition sits at the center of the narrative, inviting reflection on how bodies are labeled by society. The film questions whether identity is fixed by biology or chosen by personal sense of self. It highlights the tension between medical approaches to gender and the individual's right to self-definition. The story treats autonomy over one’s body as essential, even when it clashes with family expectations.

🎭 Gender roles

Binary gender expectations are challenged through Alex and Álvaro’s evolving relationship and desires. The film uses intimate moments to question who can express certain identities and how sexual roles are negotiated. It shows how adolescence, combined with cultural norms, shapes perceptions of masculinity and femininity. The drama invites viewers to rethink rigid gender scripts.

🗣️ Consent & Community

The village's scrutiny intensifies when Alex's identity and sexuality challenge norms, culminating in a traumatic assault that exposes safety gaps for nonconformists. The narrative probes how families and communities respond—whether with protection, secrecy, or judgment. It also explores the tension between safeguarding a loved one and allowing autonomous decisions. The ending reinforces the importance of personal choice amid communal pressure.